THE CASE FOR PREFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8866, 17 July 1907, Page 2

THE CASE FOR PREFERENCE.

A Grushina Defeat. Press Association. —Copyright. London, July 10. \ In the House of Commons Mr Lyttelton moved his vote of censure. He complained that the proposals of the Colonial Premiers I had met with unqualified rejection ,at the hands of Government, and ;congratulated. Mr Lloyd-George on scattering to the winds at the Conference the argument that the commercial tie was a, sordid bond. Mr Lyttelton insisted that preference j would stimulate intercourse with the polonies, remove many difficulties m foreign uoliey, promote consistency and coherence by transforming divergent into common interests, also increase the power of the colonies to bear the burden o£ Empire. Mr Soares then moved his amendment. Mr Churchill said it was to censure the Government for keeping their election promises. Really the motion was only a cry of petulant voxa- , tion. It was idle to discuss preference , without definite proposals showing the subjects contemplated. He asked did the Opposition adhere to the protective , duties enumerated by Mr Chamberlain | in 1903 ?. Such a system of preference | would introduce a vicious feature of cus- | crimination between one class of pro- .

ducersand.anotheraud a fiscal revolution involving taxes on necessaries of life, would be certain to create an anti-Co lomal . Party in Britain. , , , I Mr Balfour declared that nobody desired a protective duty on food. it colonial preference were returnee! tne valuable colonial concessions alreadygranted would be largely increased. It would be very rash to slam the door m the face of the colonies, it would bo wiser to make some immediate sacrifice though ho did not believe any would be required since it was imperative to broaden the basis of taxation. New taxes should be used for tho purpose of giving colonial preference. I Mr Asquith categorically asked Mr Balfour would bo tax corn, moat, wool or

butter, and added that since no ausiypr was forthcoming hp would leave the matter there. . . , Mr Lyttelton’s motion was rejected by 404 to 111. . . Mr Scare’s amendment was carried without a division, tho Liberals loudly tho debate on Mr Lyttelton’s motion Mr Lloyd George declared that in tho last few years British trade had increased considerably, more even in protected markets than in colonial markets. Ho ridiculed’tlm idea that the colonies would ,bo content with a Uhio P? e ' fereuco as regards wine, tobacco ana Canadian whisky, and added that if the tariff reformers’ proposals weie accepted one democracy m tho Empire would bo preying upon another.